It's an open-air exam now!

Students appearing for the secondary and higher secondary examinations in Panchmahal have to sit in open tents in hot summer climate.

For the thousands of students, examination day is the grand finale of their year-long preparations when they bring out their best to secure good marks, but what about the trauma of bringing the best when you are sitting under a tent in scorching heat.

Strange as it may sound, but this is exactly what examinees in Panchmahal district of Gujarat have to go through.

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Students appearing for the secondary and higher secondary examinations here have to sit in open tents in this hot summer climate as several examination centers have no facility to accommodate all the students inside the school building.

Authorities say the lack of space to conduct examinations is due to the increase in the number of students, most of whom are repeaters.

''Due to the increase in the number of registered students, we have 150 extra students this year and most of them are repeaters. We have used the primary school building, the secondary school building but still we were short of four blocks, so we have made a tent to conduct the exams. Electricity, fans and all other facilities have been provided to the students,'' said V.J Shah, District Education Officer.

However, the students present a different picture. They say whatever be the reason, the examination authorities should have arranged proper facilities. It is too hot outside and the fans are of little help.

''I have given my exams under the tents. Fans have been provided but due to the hot summers the fans are of little help,'' said, a student.

Authorities say if these tents were not provided the students would have had to face a greater problem, as they would have to travel to exam centres 15 to 20 Kilometres away.

Around 9 lakh 20 thousand students in Gujarat are appearing for the secondary and higher secondary examinations this year.